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Miller Bakery Cafe - CLOSED
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for Miller Bakery Cafe
Review Highlights
"Bibb Lettuce and Granny Smith Apple Salad."
(in 3 reviews)
"this is well worth the trek."
(in 3 reviews)
"Worth every penny every time we go."
(in 4 reviews)
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Caitlin O.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/5/2010
The worst news happened - they've closed after 21 years of delicious dining in Miller.
They've lost a gem of a restaurant here and it makes me unbelievably sad.
http://www.nwitimes.co...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/11/2006
What kind of comment is that? Where do they think they are? If you're that hard up for cash, go eat… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie K.
Chicago, IL
7/31/2006
Gourmet food on the South Shore!
I went with a group of people and shared a bunch of entrees, which I think is the best way to eat at this place. We got the sushi platter, fried goat cheese salad, portabella pizza, and a polenta dish. Their martinis are amazing--I had the pomegranate and my friends had the mango. The restaurant has great decor--kind of a mish mash of styles.
This place is a diamond in the rough! -
Review from Julia W.
5/30/2007
Miller Bakery Cafe is a fine dining staple of Northwest Indiana. In fact, I would say Chef Gary Sanders paved the way for gourmet food in The Region (not to say it's really abundant now, but he certainly was a pioneer).
It might seem odd that Gary, IN is home to an upscale restaurant--regardless of its location, however, Miller Bakery Cafe draws its patrons from neighboring towns, Chicago and Southwest Michigan. The seasonal menu offers many treats from the famed crab cakes (well, they're famous to ME, at least. YUM!) and flavorful salads to tasty pastas and expertly prepared fish and meat. Drinks are creative, wines are plenty and service has always been excellent.
I've always enjoyed the cozy space and mismatched vintage-y plates at MBC. On one dining occasion, my mom was sure the plate she was eating from was the *exact* plate from her family kitchen when she was a young girl; the folks at Miller Bakery were kind enough to send her home with it.
A great place for a special occasion or date, Miller Bakery has been doing it right for years and continues to turn out lovely dining experiences. -
Review from regionramble R.
Highland, IN
12/5/2009
Let me start his review by saying that if you would've asked me about this place 3-4 years ago, I would've given it 5 stars. However, my past few visits have me convinced that this place is on a downward arc, which is unfortunate due to the lack of fine dining options in NWI.
I dined here recently and was seated right away. The front end staff are nice and the waiter was very good.
However, the table had dirty silverware, a missing plate, and an unlit candle. I had to ask two different people for a bread basket, and had to ask twice for a lit candle. While this might not seem like a big deal, at these prices clean silverware, the little touches, and a staff that communicates with each other are not too much to ask IMO. As good as the waiter was, the staff they have clearing tables and pouring water do not seem very enthused or helpful.
On to the food. Our appetizer was absolutely delicious...gnocchi with spinach and mushroom in a tomato cream sauce. Split a salad that was later charged to me as two "mini-salads" ($3 more) even though the waiter specifically asked if we would like to split a salad.
My entree was poorly done as the fish was way too salty and the risotto was undercooked. My dining companion's dish was very good as she had a different fish special than I did. I do have to compliment the waiter as he removed my dish from the bill and apologized for the bad experience.
Their desserts are to die for as always and the ambiance is very nice.
I guess to sum it up, I never used to mind the check at the end of the meal before, because I felt that my money had been well-spent. Lately, that hasn't been the case as the quality of the food has been hit or miss, and the attention to detail doesn't seem to be the same. -
Review from Adrianne M.
Bowling Green, OH
6/26/2010
Love, love, love this place! Worth every penny every time we go. Great for a date. It is one of those places where you look at the menu and can't decide and then are nearly in tears when they tell you the special!
One great feature are the mini bite salads. For $3.50 you can add a small gourmet salad for your first or second course. Mom would be proud of you for eating your veggies!
I noticed on their website that they do take-out, delivery, in catering, but I have not tried it. -
Review from Joseph G.
Forest Park, IL
3/8/2009
The food is very good--on par with a lot of good restaurants in Chicago. If you live in the area, it's well worth the price to enjoy some wonderful flavors. If you live in Chicago, it can be a fun adventure to go out to Gary to explore this restaurant. But you may also want to weigh the pros and cons of a journey out to Gary. There are plenty of good restaurants in Chicago--although you'll likely pay a bit more for the same quality in the City.
Highlights:
Bibb Lettuce and Granny Smith Apple Salad
Flatbread with Gorgonzola, Fig, Spinach, Prosciutto
Crab Cakes with Asian Slaw
Good Steaks
Wood-burning grill (there's a whole area of the menu devoted to it) adds wonderful flavor to many savory dishes.
Anything with Maytag bleu cheese is awesome!
But don't get too attached to specific menu items. The menu is seasonal.
Service was great too--ask for Hugh. I commented to my wife that I actually felt like he was talking to me when he told us about the specials, rather than heartlessly reciting a rambling list of additional dishes. We had a great conversation too. -
Review from Larry J.
San Francisco, CA
9/10/2008
Great idea, doesn't really fit the location. Not exactly sure what they are trying to accomplish here. Not really sure what kind of cuisine they are trying to be.
It's great that they are attempting at turning folks in the area on to something new & different.
Indiana is void of a lot of culture so I guess this 'bakery' decided to throw a whole bunch of different cultures together and charge a lot for it.
Prices are high.
Food?
Not bad but certainly nothing to write home about.
This is a place to go if you just want to throw away some money. -
Review from matty z.
2/20/2009
A true gem in northwest Indiana, I really enjoy going here whenever I get the chance. When I lived in NWI, it was always a treat, and even now living in Chicago, I don't mind making the trek back.
While MBC is a bit on the expensive side for NWI (let's face it... you're in Gary), it is well worth it for the quality of food and the excellence in service.
Chef Gary never fails to serve consistent, delicious, seasonal food that rocks your palate. The bar is welcoming, and fun.
I recommend MBC for any special occasion, and for a fantastic dinner that you don't mind paying for.
Chicago folk... this is well worth the trek. Additionally, if you take the South Shore, this is just down from the Miller station. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Merrillville, IN
Updated - 3/15/2010
We celebrated our anniversary here with the wine cellar dinner. If you are looking for something very special, I highly recommend it. For $55.00 per person, $18 more if you want wine pairings with EVERY course, you will be spoiled, stuffed and pretty loopy. I had 4 fantastic wines and a chocolate martini for dessert. Our soups were fantastic and not something I usually see on the menu - curry carrot soup and brown sugar butternut squash soup. To die for. AND I was able to get the basic recipe and recreate it at home.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/13/2010
I have been going to this restaurant for 10 plus years, as a special occasion place. There are… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer Q.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2008
My friend SJ used to be part of a "time share" type situation in a lovely private community known as Miller Beach, which is the equivalent of our Chicago lakefront but in Gary, IN. We have some fond memories of girly outings in that house, one of which was the Miller Bakery Cafe . She was so proud to have introduced us to this diamond in the rough -and rightly so. This place has food on par with an upscale Chicago restaurant and It was always the highlight of our whole trip! If you decide to visit the Dunes or go out to Miller for the day, you should definitely make this place part of the trip. You won't be sorry. I have enjoyed the food and looked forward to going each and every time.
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Review from Jasmine B.
Hammond, IN
11/14/2007
This is the coolest place in Gary, IN. Absolutely delicious food. It's all gourmet so the menu changes on a daily . My absolute favorite thing is their 5 cheese macaroni. The atmosphere is awesome. I love the pictures of Speed Racer posted all over the walls. I highly recommend this place!!!
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Review from Help K.
Chicago, IL
2/28/2010
Been coming here for a friend's birthday outing for maybe 8 years now.
Agree with others who said that for the prices you'd expect someone to refill water, clean dishes, sugar to go in coffee, asking if you want cream before bringing the coffee, bringing a spoon for the coffee if you want cream and sugar . . . crappy diners get this stuff right, it's not that hard.
Agree that the place has been in steady decline. Staff is humorless, stiff, uptight, possibly depressed. Never really had any complaints about the food.
What prompted me to write a review was my experience there today-- immediately upon entering a strong odor was apparent that was 100% neglected cat litter box. It only seemed to smell in the front area, and was much worse every time the furnace was blowing.
Something is seriously wrong there . . . -
Review from Jennifer R.
Hobart, IN
9/27/2010
Love Miller Bakery! We used to go at least 1x a week for a while- they know us there! I miss it :) Fantasic food, relaxed atmosphere, excellent service. Can't ask for more!
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Review from j b.
Santa Monica, CA
6/16/2009
It's the best food joint in N. Indiana. Only problem is there's one--one--vegetarian dish out of 30--penne with mushrooms. Good beer on tap-seasonal varieties and Belgian--plus the waitstaff is attentive. Nice setting and ambience. Be warned that loud families can attend on the weekend, so if you don't like the table they give you, ask them to move you. All in all, well worth the drive from Chicago, and great prices for the quality. Only reason my star rating's not higher is the lack of veggie options--which is to be expected from the provincial midwest. At least there's no tofu.
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Review from Sarah-jayne M.
Chicago, IL
12/24/2008
This resturant is easily comparable to any upscale dining locale in Chicago. You wouldn't even know it was there if you weren't in the know. Huddled in a somewhat dilapidated downtown of Miller it looks like a dive from the outside but behold, once inside the bakery cafe is upscale and fancy. The menu is pretty exotic and changes daily. I have to say I have never had a bad meal here. The warm cornbread appetizer is to die for. Steaks are juicy, fish is fresh and the desserts make your toes curl. They have a bar (which was still smoking - not sure anymore) that has live jazz on the weekends. Martini's are good (and strong) and there used to be a fine a$$ bartender..HmmmmMmmmm.. This place is pretty expensive, especially for Gary but it really is a diamond in the rough. I used to frequent Miller fairly often and always made a point to go here.
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Review from carmen b.
Saint John, IN
3/15/2009
Hello, FOOD SNOB here. I do not get out much in the winter time because I hate the cold. Must be my mediterraen roots. So the first warm day in March I had to get out and help my better half spend her tax return. Of course I had to try something new, so this time it was Miller Bakery and cafe. After hearing a lot of good reviews from people who know food I knew I would not be disappointed. Any time you cook something over a wood burning stove its gotta be good. The appetizer of flat bread pizza, and crab cakes were one of a kind. I would of liked to try all of the specials, but I only have one stomach, so I just tried one. The Salmon cooked over wood was well what can I say, 4 stars. I tasted my partners Fillet Mignon, again 4 stars. It melted in the mouth and filed the pallet with excellence. There was only one let down and it was not the food. Every restaurant should have a private room for a big party. There was a group of about 20 people sitting in the same room in the corner. They should have sat these people outside because they were loud and did not care about the other patrons in the restaurant. However the waiter did offer to buy us a glass of wine. That's the mark of a classy place.
Now lets talk about the neighborhood. I work in Gary and know the neighborhood is not the best. But please, do not let it stop you from going here. It is not that bad. This is truly a store front GEM with a nice lounge too. -
Review from Ken P.
Portage, IN
9/17/2008
It was reviewed on WTTW's 'Check Please' show and got excellent reviews. http://www.wttw.com/ma...
It is solid up-scale dining. Yes, you can find better in Chicago at probably twice/thrice the price. In upscale dining it represents an excellent value.
Service is what you would expect at such a restaurant with an informed and helpful staff. -
Review from Mindy S.
Chicago, IL
3/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
a.m.a.z.i.n.g.
every time.
They serve roasted garlic with fresh bread and butter before the meals.....we now have a garlic roaster in our house (side rant, usually I hate specialized electric appliances, but this one is worth it's weight).
Usually get the wood-fired salmon or risotto special (like tenderloin, asparagus, mushrooms), but went with the house-made butternut squash soup (husband didn't like it, but I finished every last drop - it was a really full flavor of roasted butternet with a hint of brown sugar and perfect balance of spicyness) and POT ROAST!!!! The hostess said the only utensil I would need was a spoon...I opted for a fork, but she was right. Flaky goodness.
I loved it so much I had a conversation with the chef about it in my dream last night.....
I wish some restaurants in Chicago were as consistent as Miller Bakery, that really matters to us...that's why we go on slow nights to awesome places, we feel the chef has more time to devout to a perfect meal....
Miller is top notch. The decor is definitely small town, but the food and price makes us super happy. Every time.
Husband takes clients here, we also enjoy it for a special date night. -
Review from Rose J.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2006
This restaurant introduced me to real cuisine ~so hard to find in NWI. Excellent still.
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Review from Steven M.
4/18/2010
So I made reservations online and I told my friend to put something nice on. When we pulled up to the restaurant my buddy didn't want to get out of the car. There was one car in the whole town of Miller Beach. It looked like the street in the movie Big Fish, with tumbleweeds going by. We walk in the restaurant and now I'm pissed. I made reservations and there are 3 people at the bar. The whole joint is as empty as the rest of the town. We obviously had our pick, so I took a table by the window. Lovely decor. Wood shutters with the slats taken out and covered in burlap? They weren't even attached to anything. As I looked at the mismatched bread plates I dusted whatever was on mine off as to not scare my friend anymore than he already was. A waiter came up with the menu's and got us our drinks. He didn't seem like he was in a very good mood. His glasses were all dirty and the front of his shirt had crumbs all over it. I thought he was the cook. I started with apple gorgonzola and bibb lettuce. Probably the second best salad I have ever had. Then we had the calamari and oysters. They were all fried and came with a spicey tarter sauce. Very good, but the oysters tasted a little fishy. Then came the burgundy pot roast over mashed. It was a big hunk of meat and it just fell apart. It had baby asparagus spears with the heads cut off? That is the best part. Very tasty and over the top. You could taste a hint of wine in the sauce. Of course I had the banana almond cheese cake with chocolate graham cracker crust and carmel sauce over fresh berries. If this place was in Chicago it would have cost us at least twice the 86 bucks we paid. And that was with wine. I understand that these dishes required more time to create. But the server wasn't up to the task. He had to read the two specials off of a cheat sheet, I had to ask for a wine list and a bread basket. And when I asked about the ribs it was like I was bothering him. I left 18% for a tip but it was only for the food. His attitude cost the restaurant one star.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from K D.
San Jose, CA
2/17/2009
Awesome sushi, crab cakes, and fish. This place seemed to pop out of nowhere. I'll definitely go here next time I go back to the G.
